'Evil' spiky hairstyles have been made illegal in Iran - because they encourage devil worship.

The head of the government-run Iran Barbers Union has also reportedly banned tattoos, and salons from offering men sunbed treatments or plucking their eyebrows under strict new rules.

In a statement released by the ISNA news agency, Mostafa Govahi, the head of the organisation, laid out the new tight regulations for fashion-conscious men and hairdressers in the Islamic state.

Spiky hairstyles, including mohicans, have been made forbidden in Iran because they imply devil worship

The hairstyles, posed here by models, have become popular with Iran's young men but have been branded by authorities as 'too western' and 'un-Islamic'. Barbers giving the haircuts face losing their licences

'Devil worshipping hairstyles are now forbidden,' he said, adding: 'Any shop that cuts hair in the devil worshipping style will be harshly dealt with and their licence revoked.'

Punk-inspired, jagged haircuts have become popular among Iran's teenagers and young men in recent years, but have divided opinion and been branded by the authorities as too western and un-Islamic.